2023 Nissan Frontier

small pickup / Crew cab pickup

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria	Rating
Moderate overlap front: original test
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Side: updated test

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system	Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system	Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)
Standard system	Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Seat belt reminders

Other available safety features

Optional blind spot detection
Optional lane departure warning
Optional rear automatic braking

Key

G
Good
A
Acceptable
M
Marginal
P
Poor

Superior
Advanced
Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2022-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Nissan Frontier SV Crew Cab 2wd

The Nissan Frontier was redesigned for the 2022 model year. Moderate overlap front ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2022 Frontier crew cab conducted by Nissan.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF2302
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	8
Left (cm)	12
Center (cm)	14
Right (cm)	16
Brake pedal (cm)	3
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	0
Right (cm)	-1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	2
Rearward (cm)	-1
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF2302
Head
HIC-15	230
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm)	16
Maximum Nij	0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm)	31
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)	1.6
Femur force - right (kN)	1.2
Knee displacement - left (mm)	2
Knee displacement - right (mm)	1
Maximum tibia index - left	0.35
Maximum tibia index - right	0.41
Tibia axial force - left (kN)	3.0
Tibia axial force - right (kN)	3.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	121
Right	102

About the original moderate overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: updated test

Rating applies to 2022-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Nissan Frontier S Crew Cab 4wd

The Nissan Frontier was redesigned for the 2022 model year.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh/hip
Leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh
Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics

View of the vehicle after the crash showing the airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

The rear passenger dummy's head came close to contacting the front seatback, which increases the risk of head injuries.

Rear passenger dummy injury values indicate a low risk of injury to the head or neck and chest. During the crash, the shoulder belt remained in an ideal position on the dummy’s chest.

The rear passenger dummy's lap belt remained in the ideal position on the pelvis.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEF2218
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	8
Left (cm)	12
Center (cm)	16
Right (cm)	20
Brake pedal (cm)	4
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	0
Right (cm)	2
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	3
Rearward (cm)	-1
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	-1

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEF2218
Head
HIC-15	371
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm)	19
Maximum Nij	0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm)	28
Femur (kN)
Left	1.7
Right	0.8
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	3
Right	2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.39
Right	0.72
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	2.7
Right	3.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	99
Right	89

Test ID	CEF2218
Head
HIC-15 for head contact during forward excursion	no contact
Peak gs at hard contact	61
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.7
Compression (kN)	1.3
Maximum Nij for head contact during forward excursion	no contact
Chest
Chest index	37
Shoulder belt tension (kN)	4.4
Thigh (kN)
Left femur compression	1.4
Right femur compression	1.3

About the moderate overlap front test

February 2024 adjustment to rating criteria

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2022-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Nissan Frontier S Crew Cab 4wd

The Nissan Frontier was redesigned for the 2022 model year.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection The dummy's head contacted the seat belt D-ring and C-pillar hard, through the side curtain airbag. The head protection is inadequate.

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

The dummy's head contacted the seat belt D-ring and C-pillar through the side curtain airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CES2228
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-20.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CES2228
Head
HIC-15	64
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.3
Compression (kN)	0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	20
Lateral force (kN)	0.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	25
Average deflection (mm)	20
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	3.20
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.19
Pelvis
Combined force (kN)	2.8

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CES2228
Head
HIC-15	427
Peak gs at hard contact	88
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.6
Compression (kN)	0.7
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	46
Lateral force (kN)	2.1
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	30
Average deflection (mm)	18
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	3.96
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.33
Pelvis
Combined force (kN)	3.8

About the side crash test

Headlights

Ratings are given for 4 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

SV trim equipped with Premium package
SV trim equipped with Midnight Edition package
Pro-X trim equipped with Technology package
Pro-4X trim equipped with Technology package

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED reflector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp left and both right curves and fair on the gradual left curve.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway, on both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	SV trim equipped with Premium package SV trim equipped with Midnight Edition package Pro-X trim equipped with Technology package Pro-4X trim equipped with Technology package
Low-beam headlight type	LED reflector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2022-25 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	90.4 m	12.5%
Straightaway left edge	61.7 m	12.5%
250m radius right curve, right edge	68.9 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	57.3 m	54.7%
150m radius right curve, right edge	56.9 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	57.9 m	59.4%

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	162.5 m
Straightaway left edge	161.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	88.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	90.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	67.1 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	69.3 m

Trim level(s)

Pro-X trim
Pro-4X trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED reflector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	Pro-X trim Pro-4X trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED reflector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2023-25 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	90.4 m	12.5%
Straightaway left edge	61.7 m	12.5%
250m radius right curve, right edge	68.9 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	57.3 m	54.7%
150m radius right curve, right edge	56.9 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	57.9 m	59.4%

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	162.5 m
Straightaway left edge	161.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	88.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	90.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	67.1 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	69.3 m

Trim level(s)

S trim equipped with Technology package
SV trim equipped with Technology package

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	S trim equipped with Technology package SV trim equipped with Technology package
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2022-25 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	75.0 m	None
Straightaway left edge	40.6 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	42.2 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	39.9 m	1.3%
150m radius right curve, right edge	39.1 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	37.5 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	85.8 m
Straightaway left edge	56.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	41.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	47.0 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	36.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	41.8 m

Trim level(s)

S trim
SV trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	S trim SV trim
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2022-25 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	75.0 m	None
Straightaway left edge	40.6 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	42.2 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	39.9 m	1.3%
150m radius right curve, right edge	39.1 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	37.5 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	85.8 m
Straightaway left edge	56.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	41.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	47.0 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	36.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	41.8 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

Standard Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Protection

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2022-23 models

Superior

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

standard Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2022-25 models

Superior

Crossing child

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Crossing adult

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision. A warning was issued 1.9 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)

Ratings are given for 2 different systems available on this vehicle.

Night

System details

standard Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

Includes high-beam assist credit

This rating applies to 2022-25 models of the following trim lines: S trim equipped with Technology package, SV trim equipped with Technology package

Advanced

Crossing adult

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 19 mph.

Parallel adult

In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 21 mph when using its high beams and a warning was issued 1.6 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 27 mph and a warning was issued 1.6 seconds before impact.

Night

System details

standard Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to 2022-24 models of the following trim lines: S trim, SV trim

Advanced

Crossing adult

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 19 mph.

Parallel adult

In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 21 mph when using its high beams and a warning was issued 1.6 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 27 mph and a warning was issued 1.6 seconds before impact.

About pedestrian front crash prevention test

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2022-23 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Front row
Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
Duration	Long enough (90+ seconds)
Volume
Audio frequency
Second row
Startup status alert (visual)	None

Technical measurements for this test

About the seat belt reminder evaluation

Background cabin sound pressure level at 24 km/h	50 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 24 km/h	67 dB
Difference between background and signal	17.0 dB
Background cabin sound pressure level at 40 km/h	52 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 40 km/h	65 dB
Difference between background and signal	13.0 dB
Dominant audio frequency	2000 Hz